SPA Mission StatementJoin SPANAACP |
   "Dedicated to the Preservation of Southern Heritage"North Carolina Chapter  Wal-mart BoycottEVENTS LEADING UP TO THIS POINTMaurice Bessinger, who owns several restaurants in South Carolina, has been a staunch supporter of states rights and the right of these states to make their own decision without the outside pressures of the federal government and other puppet organizations of the current centralized government. In protest to the decision to remove the Confederate Flag from the state house dome, which honored the brave men and women who defended their homes and families from the invading army of the north, Maurice removed the US flag from his restaurants, and replaced it with the South Carolina flag and a Confederate Flag.The Following report was issued on 9/12 Barbecue Sauce Taken Off Shelves By JIM DAVENPORT .c The Associated Press COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Wal-Mart said Tuesday that it will no longer sell a popular barbecue sauce in six Southern states because the manufacturer sells merchandise with racist overtones. Maurice Bessinger's mustard-based sauce was removed from shelves of eight Sam's Club stores in North Carolina and South Carolina two weeks ago after a consumer complained about the Confederate flags at Bessinger's restaurants. Wal-Mart, which owns Sam's Club, said Tuesday that after investigating the complaint, it will remove the product from more than 90 Wal-Mart stores across the South. The discount retailer sold the sauce only in Southern stores. The customer complained because Bessinger had removed the U.S. flag from his eight Piggie Park restaurants and replaced it with state and Confederate flags. Wal-Mart visited the restaurants before dropping Bessinger as a vendor. ``We're just not comfortable with some of the things he is selling in there,'' Wal-Mart spokesman Jay Allen said. ``This has nothing to do with the Confederate flag.'' The merchandise includes tracts that offer justification for slavery. Until the Supreme Court stepped in in 1976, Bessinger refused to serve blacks at his restaurants. Bessinger, who unsuccessfully ran for governor in 1974, was a vocal supporter of keeping the Confederate flag atop the dome of the South Carolina Capitol. In a compromise that followed months of criticism and national attention on the issue, the flag was removed from the dome July 1 and a similar flag was placed on Statehouse grounds. Bessinger said Wal-Mart was trampling on his right to free speech. He said he came into the world poor and ``I may go out poor, but I will not yield to those who would destroy our sacred Constitution.'' Wal-Mart has every right ``to decide who we do business with and we're exercising that right,'' Allen said. Allen said the sauce has sold well but will be removed from the stores based on principle. ``We're the largest employer of Hispanics and African-Americans in the U.S.,'' Allen said Some Observations``We're just not comfortable with some of the things he is selling in there,'' Wal-Mart spokesman Jay Allen said. ``This has nothing to do with the Confederate flag.'' The merchandise includes tracts that offer justification for slavery. First of all, have you Mr. Allen been to your Wal-Mart book shelves lately ? I can find books that justify murder, adultery, stealing, and what about the trash you call music that you sell? When are you cleaning that up? Besides the Sauce you removed has NO SUGGESTION of any political beliefs that Maurice might have. "Wal-Mart recognizes that cultural differences exist and different standards apply in various countries, however, we believe that all terms and conditions of employment should be based on an individualīs ability to do the job, not on the basis of personal characteristics or beliefs. " Do I even need to comment on this ? Cultural differences? "We believe that all terms and conditions of employment should be based on an individualīs ability to do the job, not on the basis of personal characteristics or beliefs." What a Lie! "Allen said the sauce has sold well but will be removed from the stores based on principle. Who's principle? Is that not discrimination against ones beliefs? Wal-Mart has every right ``to decide who we do business with and we're exercising that right,'' Allen said. And So Do We, and my money will not enter your store again ! The Following Report was issued on 9/21Politics, Barbecue Sauce Don't Mix By JENNIFER HOLLAND, Associated Press Writer COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Two more retailers have pulled a popular regional barbecue sauce from their shelves, citing what they consider troubling racist aspects to the maker's politics.Food Lion asked 118 of its stores in South Carolina to yank Bessinger's barbecue sauce by Thursday, and Bi-Lo said it also would remove Bessinger's products from its 286 stores in the Carolinas, Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama. Food Lion decided ``it was best for us,'' spokeswoman Wendy Melton said, while Bi-Lo spokeswoman Joyce Smart Buchanan said some of Bessinger's business activities ``are unacceptable to us as a company and to many of our customers.'' ``This is nothing more than an attempt to dictate the religious beliefs and suppress freedom of expression of all of their American suppliers,'' said Maurice Bessinger, who operates eight Piggie Park restaurants besides selling the bottled sauce in stores. His troubles began after he lowered the U.S. flag in front of his restaurants and replaced it with the Confederate banner last month - in what he said was a protest against federal power. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE:WMT - news) said last week the mustard-based sauce no longer was welcome at its eight Sam's Club stores in South Carolina and about 100 Wal-Mart stores in the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee and Kentucky. Food Lion had said then it did not plan to banish Bessinger's bottles. ``At the time we just thought it was more of a Confederate flag issue and after some time and looking into it and such we discovered there was more to it than that,'' Melton said. At Bessinger's West Columbia headquarters and restaurant he sells tracts with titles such as ``The Biblical View of Slavery.'' An excerpt from one reads: ``Many of those African slaves blessed the Lord for allowing them to be enslaved and sent to America. Because what they had over here was far better than what they had over there.'' Bessinger said he has offered hundreds of religious tracts and writings by different ministers at his stores for decades. Food Lion and Wal-Mart ``have falsely accused me on this slavery bit,'' he said. ``That's baloney. I don't support slavery,'' Bessinger said. CALL TO ACTION!Boycott Wal-Mart, Walmart Superstores, Sam's Club, Bud's Discount City, ALL Food Lion Stores, Bi-Lo, Harris Teeter, Winn Dixie, Piggly-Wiggly, Kroger, Stores.1) Do not spend any money at any of these stores. NOW LETs GET REAL... If you have NO OTHER choice than these stores, every time you go into the store, ask for the manager, and ask them to order the sauce for you. Do it EVERYTIME!2) Call or visit these stores and tell them that you are boycotting them. 3) VERY IMPORTANT >>> Every day that you spend money at another store instead of the the above listed, call the 1-800-walmart (9256278) OR Food Lion 1-800-210-9569 or Bi-Lo 1-800-862-9293 (864)675-5186 (864)675-5521 and tell them how much money they lost today because of the boycott. Please be truthful.  
Click above to tell a friend about this page! This site has been up and running since: October 1, 2000 Home | Contact Webmaster |
